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refugees international
Refugees International Appalled by New Biden Border Policies
Jun 04, 2024
Statement by Refugees International Director for the Americas and Europe Yael Schacher:
“Refugees International is appalled by President Biden’s invocation of executive authority to violate U.S. and international refugee law and turn away people seeking safety at the U.S. southern border after a numerical quota has been reached. The number of people crossing the border has no bearing on the claims of legitimate asylum seekers. However, they will now be shut out – ironically in the name of “freeing up the asylum system for those with legitimate claims.”
Today’s policies will also not yield a better managed border. As the failed experiment with Title 42 showed, it will compound suffering and crime on the Mexican side of the border and waste valuable operational and legal resources to implement and defend. These are resources that would be better used coordinating reception and adjudicating claims to restore trust and fairness in the asylum system. Because of limits on returns and repatriations, the new policies will likely lead to increased detention of unauthorized crossers who both do and do not “manifest fear” of return (itself an ill-defined process), especially if they are from Africa and Asia.
Like several other asylum policies implemented by the administration in the last year, including bars on eligibility and expedited screenings in border patrol custody, today’s announced policies – which the administration shockingly calls “common sense” – are reminiscent of asylum restrictions proposed by former President Trump and constitute a direct betrayal of values candidate Biden promised to uphold as president.
At a time of unprecedented displacement in the hemisphere and beyond, they also represent a shirking of responsibility by a country with capacity to receive many more people seeking safety and set a dangerous example to the world of scapegoating asylum seekers in hopes of political gain. The challenges at the border are real and require solutions that balance an orderly border with fair and humane treatment of asylum seekers. This approach will achieve neither.”
Trump Admin's Terrorist Designation of Houthis in Yemen 'Reckless and Destructive'
Jan 10, 2021
The below statement is from Refugees International's Vice President for Programs and Policy Hardin Lang:
"The Trump administration's decision to designate the Houthi movement in Yemen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization is both reckless and destructive.
Coming just days before Trump leaves office, the designation will complicate diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen and will disrupt relief efforts for the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Particularly alarming are reports that Secretary Pompeo is moving forward before finalizing waives and licenses that would allow humanitarian aid to continue to flow. If true, it is difficult to imagine a more irresponsible decision.
The litmus test for U.S. policy on Yemen is simple: does it help end the conflict, or keep alive the millions of suffering Yemenis? The designation fails on both counts.
President-elect Biden and his team will need to move quickly to roll back this decision. The people of Yemen have endured enough. Ending their suffering must start on day one."
For more information, read "Six Reasons Why a Terrorist Designation for Yemen's Houthis is a Bad Idea," by Eric P. Schwartz and Hardin Lang: https://www.justsecurity.org/73677/six-reasons-why-a-terrorist-designation-for-yemens-houthis-is-a-bad-idea/
To arrange an interview, contact Refugees International Director of Communications Sarah Sheffer at ssheffer@refugeesinternational.org or +1 202 540 7029.
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In Second Annual Administration Report Card, Refugees International Says U.S. Performance Fails Yet Again
'As bad as last year’s performance was, this year’s is even worse'
Sep 09, 2019
The Trump administration received its second failing grade in two years in Refugees International's annual Report Card on the administration's performance on refugee and humanitarian protection, which was published today.
Refugees International evaluated the administration in seven critical areas both in the United States and overseas, all of which have traditionally enjoyed a history of bipartisan support. These include:
- Asylum -- F
- U.S. Refugee Admissions Program -- F
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Other Forms of Humanitarian Protection -- F
- Humanitarian Funding -- F
- Diplomacy to Save Lives -- D
- Refugee Women and Girls -- D
- Strengthening the Multilateral System of Refugee, Migration, and Humanitarian Response -- F
As indicated in the Report Card, the grades are based on criteria drawn from U.S. and international refugee law, as well as long-established best practices in humanitarianism endorsed by prior U.S. administrations of both parties and by the U.S. Congress.
"Day in and day out, the country and the world have witnessed a range of practices and policies from this White House that exhibit a full-spectrum of hostility towards some of the world's most vulnerable people," said Refugees International President Eric Schwartz. "Thus, Refugees International believes it is critical to account carefully for the totality of the administration's decisions and actions. This document shows a continuum of cruelty that should shock the conscience of all Americans and call them to question what is being done in their names, because as bad as last year's performance was, this year's is even worse."
The Trump administration continues to undermine U.S. refugee law and longstanding U.S. humanitarian policy through cruel practices toward families seeking asylum, weakening the U.S. asylum process, and crippling the U.S. Refugee Admissions program. Overseas, President Trump has sought to dramatically reduce and otherwise restrict lifesaving humanitarian aid (including aid to refugee women and girls), has failed to lead on efforts to end conflicts inflicting humanitarian suffering, and has undermined global efforts to improve responses on migration and refugees.
The one bright spot is that none of this is permanent. The report makes clear that nothing except decisions by President Trump and his White House are preventing the United States from changing course and improving refugee and humanitarian practices that would bring the country back into conformity with both international and U.S. law.
"There are now more than 70 million refugees and internally displaced people around the world and historically, the United States has played a critical role in helping to meet the needs of people who have been forced from their homes," said Schwartz. "Instead of stepping up to the enormous challenges, the United States is turning its back on its moral and legal responsibilities. But there's nothing that prevents a change in policies."
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